Don't compare it to show cars, and you won't have to. :)
Personally, I've gotten tired of seeing perfect paint jobs and engine bays. I like a car to have "patina", and look like it's DRIVEN. A LOT.
I've completely abandoned the shiny, pseudo-restoration plans for my Swinger, and have decided to go with more of a "Rat Rod" look straight body, nice stance, cool wheels, mechanically superior to stock, and something I don't have to worry about if I drive it to the grocery store and grandma scrapes the fender of her Buick along my quarter-panel and is too old to even realize it (in case it isn't obvious, it's to me happened before).
Don't get me wrong I have nothing against show cars, and I'm not knocking guys with shiny paint jobs, I've just seen so many of them over the past 15 years that I'm no longer interested in seeing any more. I'd rather see some guy's dirty but functional home-brewed turbo slant under the hood than a pristine big block, or a customized instrument cluster with a rack of modern gauges than another perfectly restored A-body dash. I've seen a few thousand of those, and I'd rather see someone's creativity, not their ability to make old things look brand new. I want to see someone's "thumb print" on a car. I realize this is almost heresy to some folks who wanna relive the 60's and 70's, but to each his own.
Sorry rant over. ALL of the owners of the cars in this thread should be proud. I LOVE your car, pharmboy. I'd drive it down the street ANY day. Wish I could fake that same consistent faded paint on my Swinger. :)
